Da Nang Airport (IATA: DAD) sits 3 km from the city centre and about 5 km from the My Khe Beach strip. DAD is easy by Vietnam airport standards: the city is close, Grab works, and the taxi ranks are outside arrivals — but the touts hit the moment you exit, and the difference between taking the right car and the wrong one is roughly ₫200,000 and your first hour of the trip.
The short version
- Grab from DAD to city/beach: ₫80,000–₫130,000, 10–20 minutes
- Grab from DAD to Hoi An: ₫250,000–₫350,000, 30–45 minutes
- Official taxi booth (inside arrivals): comparable to Grab, no negotiation required
- Private transfer (pre-booked): ₫350,000–₫500,000 to Hoi An — worth it for groups or early starts
- Shared shuttle to Hoi An: ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person, fixed departures
- Public bus to Hoi An: ₫30,000, 60–90 minutes — for the patient
- Avoid: airport touts outside the terminal and unmetered cabs without agreed prices
The airport: what to know first
Da Nang Airport has two passenger terminals: T1 handles domestic flights and T2 handles international arrivals. They are connected by a covered walkway, a 10-minute walk apart. International passengers arrive into T2 — baggage claim, immigration, customs, and the exit into the arrivals concourse happen in sequence with no real confusion. Free WiFi covers the T2 arrivals hall.
Grab operates from both terminals. In T2 (international arrivals), the ride-hail pick-up zone is in front of the car park building outside the arrivals exit — follow the signs to the taxi and rideshare waiting area. Expect a short wait in peak periods; the app shows the driver’s name, plate, and live location.
A currency exchange counter operates in the arrivals hall if you need dong before you reach an ATM. Rates are not great — use it for small amounts if you must. Airport ATMs (Techcombank, Vietcombank) are available after customs and give reasonable exchange rates on international cards.
Grab: the default for most arrivals
Grab is the right call for the majority of passengers. The price is locked before you accept the ride, the cars are air-conditioned, and you don’t need cash — international Visa and Mastercard work in the app, or you can top up with cash from a convenience store if needed.
How to get Grab at the airport:
- Connect to the airport’s free WiFi before you exit — or use mobile data if your SIM is already active.
- Open Grab, set your destination, and choose GrabCar (standard 4-seater).
- Accept the fare. The app assigns a driver and shows their live position.
- Walk outside the terminal to the designated ride-hail pick-up zone.
- Match the plate number on the app to the car.
2026 Grab fares from Da Nang Airport:
| Destination | GrabCar | GrabBike |
|---|---|---|
| City centre (Bach Dang riverfront) | ₫80,000–₫130,000 | ₫40,000–₫65,000 |
| My Khe Beach | ₫90,000–₫140,000 | ₫45,000–₫70,000 |
| An Thuong area | ₫90,000–₫140,000 | ₫45,000–₫70,000 |
| Marble Mountains / Non Nuoc | ₫100,000–₫160,000 | ₫50,000–₫80,000 |
| Hoi An | ₫250,000–₫350,000 | Not practical |
These are 2026 estimates — Grab prices fluctuate with demand. Surge pricing applies during peak hours (6–9 am, 5–8 pm) and when it rains. Booking 10–15 minutes before you need the car cuts the worst of it.
GrabBike is significantly cheaper but requires you to be comfortable on the back of a motorbike with your luggage. It’s not practical if you have more than a day pack.
One practical note: Grab can be slow to confirm during peak arrival times when many passengers book simultaneously. If you wait more than five minutes for a match, try GrabCar 7 (larger vehicle) — it often has lower demand.
Official airport taxi booths
Inside the arrivals hall, before you exit, there are official fixed-price taxi counters. The prices are posted — no negotiation, no meter. For the main city routes, booth prices run ₫150,000–₫180,000 to the city centre or beach.
That’s slightly more than a Grab but removes the need for a working phone and data connection. If you land without a local SIM and can’t get the WiFi working quickly, the official booth is the cleanest alternative. The cars are standard metered taxis from established companies (Vinasun, Mai Linh), and the drivers are vetted by the airport.
It’s also a sensible option for solo travellers arriving at night who prefer a booth transaction with a receipt over managing an app while tired.
Metered taxis: when Grab isn’t available
Metered taxis queue outside the terminal after the ride-hail zone. Established companies — Vinasun and Mai Linh — use meters and are generally trustworthy. The flag fall starts around ₫12,000–₫15,000; the fare to the city centre runs ₫100,000–₫180,000 depending on traffic.
Use these only if Grab is unavailable or you can’t get the app working. The meter must start at zero when you get in — confirm this before the car moves. If the driver objects to running the meter, get out.
Avoid: taxis without visible company markings, drivers quoting a fixed price at the kerb, and anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. These are almost always overchargers. If the price isn’t on a sign or in an app before you get in, it’s a negotiation you’ll lose.
Private transfers: worth it in specific situations
A pre-booked private transfer sends a driver to meet you in arrivals with a name sign. The vehicle is typically a minivan or sedan, air-conditioned, with a price agreed in advance.
2026 private transfer prices from Da Nang Airport:
| Destination | Standard car | 7-seater / group |
|---|---|---|
| Da Nang city / My Khe Beach | ₫300,000–₫450,000 | ₫400,000–₫600,000 |
| Hoi An | ₫350,000–₫500,000 | ₫500,000–₫700,000 |
Book a private transfer if you land late, travel with kids or bulky luggage, or need a predictable Hoi An pickup without juggling an app after a long flight.
Booking platforms like Klook and KKday list vetted providers with upfront pricing. Your hotel can often arrange a pickup at comparable rates — worth asking when you book.
Da Nang Airport to Hoi An
Hoi An is about 30 km south of DAD. It is a simple road transfer — usually 40–45 minutes unless rain or peak traffic slows the coast road. Your choice mostly comes down to luggage, arrival time, and whether you are heading into Da Nang first or going straight to Hoi An.
Grab to Hoi An
₫250,000–₫350,000 by GrabCar, 30–45 minutes. This is the most common option for solo travellers and couples. The price is fixed, the car comes to you, and you’re dropped at your hotel door.
A group of four paying ₫350,000 splits to ₫87,500 each — at that point, a private transfer is marginal and worth considering for the meet-in-arrivals convenience.
Note that Grab exists in Hoi An but driver supply is thinner than Da Nang. The return trip from Hoi An to the airport is best booked 15–20 minutes before you need it; don’t count on immediate availability for early morning flights.
Shared shuttle
Shared minibuses run Da Nang Airport to Hoi An for ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person. The trade-off: fixed departure times, possible multi-hotel drop-offs, and pickup from a set point rather than directly at the terminal in some cases. Journey time is 45–75 minutes with stops.
Worth considering for solo travellers where the timing works. For couples or small groups, Grab is usually cheaper per head.
Public bus (LK-02)
The LK-02 public bus connects Da Nang and Hoi An for ₫15,000–₫35,000 depending on your boarding point. It runs roughly every 15–30 minutes from around 5:45 am to 6 pm — no overnight service. The bus does not stop at the terminal itself; the closest stop requires a 10-minute walk or a short Grab to the stop on Nguyen Tat Thanh road. Confirm the current stop location in Google Maps or the DanaBus app before you go. Journey time is 60–90 minutes with stops.
It works if you are travelling light and do not mind the extra transfer. With suitcases, skip it.
For what to do once you’re in Hoi An, the Hoi An Old Town guide covers the essentials. If you’re still deciding whether to base yourself in Da Nang or Hoi An, the Da Nang vs Hoi An guide lays it out directly.
Night arrivals: what’s different
Da Nang Airport handles international flights from across Asia, several of which arrive late at night or in the early hours. Night arrivals are manageable with a few adjustments.
Touts are more persistent after dark. After 10 pm there are fewer passengers outside, so touts are harder to ignore. Walk with purpose to the official taxi rank or Grab zone without making eye contact. If someone approaches you inside the terminal claiming to be a taxi driver, ignore them — airport drivers wait outside.
Grab still works at night but driver supply drops after 11 pm. You may wait 5–10 minutes for a match. If nothing appears after 10 minutes, switch to GrabCar 7 or use the official taxi booth inside.
The official taxi booth is open for all significant arrivals, including late-night international flights. For a solo night arrival without a working SIM, it’s the lowest-stress exit.
Night transfers to Hoi An: most pre-booked private transfer services operate around the clock for flights, provided you’ve communicated your arrival time. Grab is available late but Hoi An matches can be slower to appear; have the official taxi booth or a hotel-arranged transfer as backup. Expect fares near the upper end of the range after 10 pm.
The return trip: airport pickup
Getting back to the airport is simpler because you have time to prepare.
From Da Nang: Grab from My Khe Beach or the city centre runs ₫80,000–₫140,000 and takes 10–20 minutes. Book the Grab 15 minutes before you need it — don’t schedule it the night before, as scheduled rides aren’t reliable in Vietnam. For flights before 6 am, check your hotel can call a reliable taxi as backup if Grab is slow.
From Hoi An: Grab from Hoi An to the airport runs ₫250,000–₫380,000. For early morning departures before 6 am, Grab supply in Hoi An can be thin. A pre-booked private transfer through your hotel is the safer option.
Allow at least 45 minutes from any Da Nang property to the airport, 60 minutes from Hoi An, and more during peak hours or monsoon-season rain.
Where you stay affects what you spend on transfers
A hotel near My Khe Beach keeps airport transfers under ₫140,000 and puts the sand within walking distance. The city centre (Bach Dang riverfront area) adds a short Grab to the beach but is convenient for restaurants and the Han Market.
For a full breakdown by area and budget, the where to stay in Da Nang guide covers the main options. For transport within the city beyond the airport, see the getting around Da Nang guide.
FAQ
How much is a taxi from Da Nang Airport to the city centre?
A Grab costs ₫80,000–₫130,000 to the city centre or My Khe Beach and takes 10–15 minutes. The official fixed-price taxi booth inside arrivals charges ₫150,000–₫180,000 for the same routes. Avoid unmetered taxis outside the terminal.
Is there a direct bus from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?
The LK-02 public bus connects Da Nang and Hoi An for ₫15,000–₫35,000 depending on boarding point, running every 15–30 minutes from 5:45 am to 6 pm. The bus does not stop at the terminal — confirm the nearest stop in Google Maps on the day. Journey time is 60–90 minutes. A GrabCar direct from the airport to Hoi An costs ₫250,000–₫350,000 and takes 30–45 minutes.
Can I get Grab at Da Nang Airport?
Yes. Grab operates reliably at Da Nang Airport. Connect to the free airport WiFi before exiting, book through the app, and proceed to the designated ride-hail pick-up zone outside the terminal.
How long does it take to get from Da Nang Airport to My Khe Beach?
10–15 minutes by car in normal traffic. The airport is 5 km from the main My Khe Beach hotel strip. Surge pricing during peak hours can push the Grab fare to ₫150,000, but journey time stays roughly the same.
How much does it cost to get from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An?
A Grab costs ₫250,000–₫350,000 and takes 30–45 minutes. A pre-booked private transfer runs ₫350,000–₫500,000. A shared shuttle is ₫150,000–₫250,000 per person with fixed departure times and multiple stops.
What time does the last transfer from Da Nang Airport to Hoi An run?
Grab is available late, but Hoi An matches can be slower and more expensive after 10 pm — have the official taxi booth or a hotel transfer as backup. Pre-booked private transfers cover late-night arrivals if arranged in advance. The LK-02 public bus runs only until around 6 pm.
Is it safe to take a taxi at Da Nang Airport at night?
The official taxi booth inside arrivals and established metered companies (Vinasun, Mai Linh) are safe at any hour. Avoid touts who approach inside the terminal or quote fixed prices at the kerb without a meter or booking receipt.
